Audition Information

Membership in the Oakland Youth Orchestra is open to highly qualified players of orchestral instruments from Bay Area schools through the annual audition process.

Entrance Auditions for the 2026-2027 Season

Entrance application now open! Auditions are open to musicians aged 22 or younger who are prepared to make a serious commitment to challenging repertoire and to our full schedule of rehearsals, concerts, and tours. Generally, students are between the ages of 11 and 22, but exceptional, younger students may also be admitted.

Please review the audition requirements prior to applying.

Learn about the OSYO (advanced level) here.
Learn about the NEW String Orchestra here.
Video Audition Components & Submission Requirements can be found here.
Audition Application can be found here.

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES FOR THE 2026-27 SEASON:

March 15: Open House – click here to sign up
March 22: Open House – click here to sign up
March 31: Audition Application Due AND Audition Videos Due (closes at 11:59 PM PDT). Apply here
April 18: Audition Results & Registration Instructions sent via EMAIL
April 19: Open House – click here to sign up
May 1: Deadline to Complete the 2026-27 Member Registration
July 15: Deadline to Submit Tuition Assistance Application

Audition Requirements

We highly recommend that you begin preparing the audition requirements as early as possible.

Overview

Youth Orchestra (advanced level)
1. Scales | 2. Solo/Prepared Piece | 3. Excerpts
String Orchestra (intermediate/advanced-intermediate level)
1. Scales | 2. Solo/Prepared Piece

1. Scales – Youth Orchestra (Advanced Level)

- Violin: 3-octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60. (Updated 3/10/26)
- Viola: 3-octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60. (Updated 3/10/26)
- Cello: 3-octave F major scale and F major chords arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., f-g-a, b-flat-c-d, etc.) at quarter note = 60. (Updated 3/10/26)
- Bass: 2-octave E major scale and E major chords arpeggios
- Brass: Bb and Ab Major concert
- Winds: A and Ab Major concert
- Harp: C major scale, hands together, at a comfortable tempo
- Percussion: concert snare drum roll (please bring snare) soft-loud-soft, 3 of the basic snare drum rudiments (flam, ruffs, paradiddles, etc.), and a C Major scale on the glockenspiel

1. Scales – String Orchestra (Intermediate Level)

- Violin: 3-octave G major scale and G major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., g-a-b, c-d-e, etc.) at quarter note = 60. (Updated 3/10/26)
- Viola: 3-octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60. (Updated 3/10/26)
- Cello: 3-octave C major scale and C major chords arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60. (Updated 3/10/26)
- Bass: 2-octave E major scale and E major chords arpeggios

2. Solo or Prepared Piece(s) – Youth Orchestra & String Orchestra

All candidates should present a prepared piece or study—such as a concerto movement or equivalent—that demonstrates their current level of musicianship, including technical facility and artistic expression, and reflects their readiness to perform at a high level. The candidate’s solo piece should total no more than 6 minutes in length. Excerpts from larger works are welcome to meet this requirement. Auditions are strictly unaccompanied; neither collaborative pianists nor recorded accompaniments or backing tracks are permitted.

String Orchestra Repertoire Reference Point: Range from Suzuki Book 5 – 7 or equivalent.

Note: If your prepared piece is shorter (e.g., 4 minutes), you do not need to add additional repertoire to reach the 6-minute mark.

3. Orchestral Excerpts – Youth Orchestra only (Advanced Level)

All candidates auditioning for the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra (advanced level) are required to prepare excerpts for their listed instrument. If you are unfamiliar with these excerpts, we encourage candidates to listen to recordings of the pieces and bring them to their private instructors or ensemble leaders for input. Please contact youthorchestra@oaklandsymphony.org for any questions.

Audition adjudicators will be evaluating your performance based on the following criteria:

Rhythmic accuracy
Rhythmic stability (steady tempo)
Intonation (playing in-tune with yourself)
Tone quality
Dynamic contrast
Instrument-specific technique
Musicality, expression, and phrasing
Appropriateness of repertoire for your technical level
Ability to recover if you make a mistake
Careful preparation of all audition music

Apply Now

To register for an audition, please complete the Audition Application. There is a non-refundable $35 application fee. Candidates auditioning on multiple instruments must complete a new audition application for each instrument and pay the non-refundable fee. Payments are processed through PayPal.

Note: While this application form allows users to save and return to the form within 30 days, entries are not stored in the system until the application is paid.

Financial circumstances should not be a barrier to joining OSYO. We offer need-based aid for all program costs, including audition fee waivers. To request a free application or discuss financial assistance, please contact our office directly.